Malaria Journal
Joyner et al. Malar J (2016) 15:451 DOI 10.1186/s12936-016-1480-6
Open Access
RESEARCH
Plasmodium cynomolgi infections in rhesus macaques display clinical and parasitological features pertinent to modelling vivax malaria pathology and relapse infections Chester Joyner1,5, Alberto Moreno1,3,5, Esmeralda V. S. Meyer1,5, Monica Cabrera‑Mora1,5, The MaHPIC Consortium, Jessica C. Kissinger4,5, John W. Barnwell2,5 and Mary R. Galinski1,3,5*
Abstract Background: Plasmodium vivax infections in humans or in new world monkeys pose research challenges that neces‑ sitate the use of alternative model systems. Plasmodium cynomolgi is a closely related species that shares genetic and biological characteristics with P. vivax, including relapses. Here, the haematological dynamics and clinical presentation of sporozoite-initiated P. cynomolgi infections in Macaca mulatta (rhesus macaques) are evaluated over a 100-day period. Methods: Five M. mulatta were inoculated with 2000 P. cynomolgi B strain sporozoites. Parasitological and haema‑ tological data were collected daily to study the clinical presentations of primary infections and relapses. Peripheral blood and bone marrow aspirates were collected at specific time points during infection for future and retrospective systems biology analyses. Results: Patent infections were observed between days 10 and 12, and the acute, primary infection consisted of parasitaemias ranging from 269,962 to 1,214,842 parasites/µl (4.42–19.5 % parasitaemia). All animals presented with anaemia, ranging from moderate (7–10 g/dl) to severe (
Joyner et al. Malar J (2016) 15:451 DOI 10.1186/s12936-016-1480-6
Open Access
RESEARCH
Plasmodium cynomolgi infections in rhesus macaques display clinical and parasitological features pertinent to modelling vivax malaria pathology and relapse infections Chester Joyner1,5, Alberto Moreno1,3,5, Esmeralda V. S. Meyer1,5, Monica Cabrera‑Mora1,5, The MaHPIC Consortium, Jessica C. Kissinger4,5, John W. Barnwell2,5 and Mary R. Galinski1,3,5*
Abstract Background: Plasmodium vivax infections in humans or in new world monkeys pose research challenges that neces‑ sitate the use of alternative model systems. Plasmodium cynomolgi is a closely related species that shares genetic and biological characteristics with P. vivax, including relapses. Here, the haematological dynamics and clinical presentation of sporozoite-initiated P. cynomolgi infections in Macaca mulatta (rhesus macaques) are evaluated over a 100-day period. Methods: Five M. mulatta were inoculated with 2000 P. cynomolgi B strain sporozoites. Parasitological and haema‑ tological data were collected daily to study the clinical presentations of primary infections and relapses. Peripheral blood and bone marrow aspirates were collected at specific time points during infection for future and retrospective systems biology analyses. Results: Patent infections were observed between days 10 and 12, and the acute, primary infection consisted of parasitaemias ranging from 269,962 to 1,214,842 parasites/µl (4.42–19.5 % parasitaemia). All animals presented with anaemia, ranging from moderate (7–10 g/dl) to severe (
